Tony Gonzalez: On the Cusp of 100 Career Touchdown Catches

by Knox Bardeen on October 13, 2012

Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez | photo: AtlantaFalcons.com

ATLANTA – Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez is nearing an historic milestone. Since he entered the NFL in 1997, he’s caught more touchdown passes than any tight end in the history of the league. With his next catch in the end zone, he’ll land on No. 100 of his career.

Gonzalez has 76 touchdown catches as a member of the Chiefs. He has 23, and counting, with the Falcons.

Gonzalez has 50 touchdown catches at home, 49 on the road.

Sunday is by far the biggest day for Gonzalez with 88 touchdown catches. He has five on Saturday, three on Monday and three on Thursday.

The best quarter for Gonzalez, historically, to catch touchdown passes has been the second (35). He has 27 touchdown catches in the fourth, 21 in the first and 16 in the third quarter.

Gonzalez has four touchdown catches of 30 yards or more (his longest was in 1999, a 73-yard catch against the Raiders from Elvis Grbac), but his most frequent distance is 10-19 yards (30 touchdowns). He has 24 touchdown catches between four and nine yards, 21 catches between 20 and 29 yards, and 20 catches of three of fewer yards. Gonzalez has caught eight 1-yard touchdown passes in his career.

Touchdown Catches by Quarterback

Trent Green (34)

Elvis Grbac (23)

Matt Ryan (23)

Damon Huard (8)

Tyler Thigpen (8)

Brodie Croyle (1)

Rich Gannon (1)

Larry Johnson (1)

Touchdown Catches by Opponent

San Diego Chargers (10)

Oakland Raiders (8)

Denver Broncos (8)

Miami Dolphins (6)

Cincinnati Bengals (5)

Jacksonville Jaguars (4)

Philadelphia Eagles (4)

Cleveland Browns (4)

Buffalo Bills (4)

Indianapolis Colts (4)

Carolina Panthers (4)

Green Bay Packers (3)

New York Jets (3)

Detroit Lions (3)

Washington Redskins (3)

Baltimore Ravens (3)

St. Louis Rams (3)

New York Giants (2)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2)

Pittsburgh Steelers (2)

New Orleans Saints (2)

Minnesota Vikings (2)

Seattle Seahawks (2)

San Francisco 49ers (1)

Tennessee Titans (1)

Chicago Bears (1)

Arizona Cardinals (1)

Houston Texans (1)

New England Patriots (1)

Atlanta Falcons (1)

Kansas City Chiefs (1)

The only team Gonzalez hasn’t scored a touchdown against is the Dallas Cowboys (Atlanta plays Dallas at home in Week 9).